JOURNAL, BOMBAY. NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



B. gracilis, Nees, Steud. Syn. PL Glum. 413. D. laxiuscula, Thew. 

 Trimen's Journal of Bot., 1885, p. 272. This is not common like 

 the latter species, is found in our gMts. Both grow among other 

 grasses, specially amongst Arthraxon echinatus, and have a peculiar 

 withered look in consequence of their light brown or yellowish-white 

 inflorescence. Cattle do not seem to touch it. 



Imperata ; Cyrill. 



Imperata arundinacea, Cyrill ; Sascharum cylindricutn , Roxb. FI. 

 Ind. 



Ver. Dhub. In moist places all over our Presidency not common, 

 Widely dispersed over Northern India, both in the plains and on the 

 hills, more especially on clayey soils, where water is near tie surface. 

 It forms a very large portion of the pasturage in Bengal, where, 

 as Roxburgh observes, the fields are white with it when in flower 

 after the first rains in April and May. Cattle relish it, when 

 young. The Telingas make use of it in their marriage ceremonies. 

 In Australia it is called ' blady grass ; ' and the young succulent 

 foliage, which springs up after the occurrence of a fire, is much 

 relished by stock. I have observed the same effect resulting from 

 periodical fires on certain parts of the Himalaya, where the grass- 

 is plentiful. 



In external appearance it resembles the following grass, and i» 

 known to natives by the same vernacular name. 



Saccharum, Linn. 



S. spontaneum, Linn. S. JEyyptiacum., Willd. Enum,, herb. Ber. 

 I. 82. S. semidecumbcns, S. canaticutatum, Roxb. Fl, Ind. I. 236 

 and 246. 



Ver. Kan, Bochri, Dharbi. (West Khandeish.) Common all over 

 India in the plains and on the Himalayan slopes up to 6,000 ft. 

 Used as a fodder for buffaloes and also for thatching. Young 

 elephants also feed on it. In Ceylon it is very common in gardens 

 and fences, and its long white silvery panicles and tall culm& give it 

 a very gaudy appearance. The leaves make good mats, used for 

 various purposes. 



8, officinarum, Linn., Daly and Gibs., Bomb. FL Suppl. 100. 



Vex. Uss, Serdi, Crhcndt-ry (bits <>f the cane sold in the bazaar). 



